Tent



Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,111

E. BYNE TENT Filed Jan. 19. 1927 Patented Nov. 22, 1 927. 1

UNITED-- STATES PA QFF C TENT;

Application filed January 19, 1927, SerialNo. 162,182, and inAirstralia'liebruary 4,1928.

This invention relates to tents or shelters which have jointed frameswhich are easily collapsible. One object of the invention is to providea tent frame composed of ribs 5- which are relatively light and areconnected together, and are tensionable into arcuate form. These ribswill carry a fabric body. My tent has means by which it can be firmlyand easily anchored. It can be rapidly erected and is portable.

Afurther feature of the invention'is that the frame when erected has abase of the form of a segment of a circle, and has,r1s-

ing from the base, arched ribs which extend in different'directions andare held tension, one or more transverse droppers being added to staythe archeswhen-required.- In" side view the tent frame has a vertical oran oblique front.

The tent can the joints ofthe frame allow of folding.

iWhen the tent is erected its contour promotes deflection of windstriking its exterior, and the said contour also provides a 95 maximumof interior space.

are suitable for temporary useon beaches,

and by travellers. V j

I The fabric of the shelter may va-ry. It is waterproof and lightproofif desired, and

- may be silk, canvas," or other light strong flexible material. Thisfabric can be reinforced in the vicinity of 'frame hinges by means ofpatches the same description of fabric not being necessarily used at allparts ofthe tent. I r I J The foregoing'and other details are explainedherein by reference to the drawings herewith in which scales vary.

I Figure 1 shows, in perspective, my tent erected, part of the fabricbeing omitted.

Figure, 2 shows, in front elevation, the frame erectedj Y r Figure 3 isa side elevation 'of the tent with part of the fabric omitted.

Figure 4: is a' perspective view of parts where bases of ribs areconnected. Y

' Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section,

of a rib joint and adjacentfabric. I Figure 6 is an elevation of afully; opened rib joint, withthe rib curved: under tension. Figure 7 isa fragmentary view of a drop per. p r g Figure 8'shows a partly foldedrib. Figure 9 is a'perspective view ofa hinge fitting. I

be rapidly collapsed because Such shelters Figure 10 is another view'ofthe-part in omittable at will, their'use bein chiefly desirable inrelatively large shel te rs. cEach rib has any suitable number of joints3 front arch 2, and has intermediate ribs 3, andone or more .droppers 4,the latteribeing respectively; and each dropper is jointed when, owingto its length, that construction enablesthe dropper to .be foldeditoadvantage; Across the front :of the shelteris a tensioning means shownas a cable'10 whichextends along'or a little above the ground, and

by which the series of arcuate members of the frame have their meetingends held together in two groups. one ateach side of the shelter, and sospaced-apart asto main "tain suitable rib tension, whereby the fabric oftlie'shelter Willbe given the correct shape 1 for use, for example thatof a quarter or more than aquarter of a hollow sphere.

The 101ntsat-gr0ups of rib'ends may vary, F igure 4 exhibiting ascrewthreaded stem 5,

which passes through each rib end, a wing nut 5" fixing the ends withthe ribs extending in their appropriate'planes; Thetensioning cable 10isshown with end adjust- "ment links 10"oneof which engages stem 5, theend of which, 5, is-hooked." Y

16 shows the shelter fabric-which covers the frame, and lfi are ribattachment means,

shown as" slots for'example." The fabric front has edge frilling bywhich two shelters,-set front toffront, are connectible to formfa domeshaped'tent of'large internal capacity, but any other front parts-oftwoshelters may be connected to make-a l'a'rgerj tent. I provide one ormore front curtains at -will to hang 'vertically or to extend obliquely.'At front frill 8 may support-any such curtain; but, though'us'eful,curtains are not illustrated'as they are not claimed. I use a frontfrill for anchor cable conned tions, cables or cords 8 being showntensioned by suitable means, as ballast bags 9, for-example. a r l Thefront frill extends around any predetermined length of the front arch,and-is of suitable width, for example less than 12 inches, in a :shelterof small size -made for one=-or-a few occupants. Thefront i 'rill canslope outward forward of the vertical plane of .theground .line cable10. The user can, however, at will set the iri'll 'back ins'idetheshelter, or minimize the space it occupies.

For this purpose profs buttons are suitable. The :fabric base chas a:trill 11, extending around anypredetermined length of the base irib i1,constituting a aground contact which will keep out water and wind andtoact ribs out straight, but resist further openings zso that the iribswhen "pressed ifurtlierin the (opening direction :become curved 1l1l10"arches :under tension, the *curves belng such. as are sm-aint'ained bythe 'frontal connection 10.-

. -In' Figures 5, 6,'and ill the ribs are of the familiar channelledcross section, "but ithe "sectionszmay vary, and the zflexibleqmaterialis not 'zne'cessarily metal. Any "length of \channelled rib may have at@its ends some *other :suitable section.

In FigurelQa-ib length ends 3', 3.d0i110t meet, but i approach oneanother andihave a fiexible connection 8 of :leather for 'eX-- sample,to :form the =fdldableijoint. The ends 10f this connection are suitablyfi xed as-by ibeingisqueezed in ribichannels. A sleeve3 11s adjustableto prevent "the joint closing.

when .in the position shown, but by sliding the sleeve off one ribile'nzgth, ithe rib ,joint becomes toldable. the =rib extended the {ribis tensionable =to pjroduce=an arch. To -ho'ld the sleeve in po-SllllOIl, :means, shown 'by springs 3F, 35, are

-. used. Oneof-these springs,z3,zloeks into a sleeve :slot 3*, but whenthe sleeve is :adgflus'ted for arib folding, spring .3 enters The hingein Figure 11 hasa centralsabut- 1 ment block-14 ithe ends of-which carrytwo hinge pins il l connecting thelimbs 12?, 12; and a projection 14 ofthis block tor-ms abutments for the limbs and ensuresieasy :tensioningof the rib. Obviously a block part, 145?, could'beiarrangedwith'projections to enter rib limb sockets iby making slightmodifications. I show a socket in Figure 5 which shows a modifiedjoint,-and in which the hinge 12 has a pin' 12 gpassing through hen :thesleeve lllOldS 1 its limbs 12*, 12; limb 12 has atongue 13 projectinginto a socket..13 in limb 12, this icombination 'aitording resistance tolateral distort-ion of the joint. p

Figures ,9 andv lOshow a hinge limb l2 which is "adaptedto "be fix'ed toa length of --.rib as a jointing member.

Unless subjected to a powerful head wind :my shelter when -.er:ectedwill stand without 7 requiring to have its front anchored by "stays,especially when: fitted with -;one or more of the droppers which Insect-descri V way of examplel showa dropperl liof aflat spring :metal,with intermediate :and end locking devices shown as recesses 15, '15 :to

engage and hold in place respective ribs-3,

2,-and l of the-shelter, and counteract any tendency such 'ribs may haveto 'fallitrom their correct positions. The dropper: "is curved undertension when in zuseg and, in the case illustr-ated, stands in verticalsplane. iferred. I I V 11 vein-ploy anchoring cords ,8: in -pairs,spreading two pairs suitably .to hold or v3.5"

sist in {holding :the trance erected, notwithstanding that there=may Thewind atfthe (front; but cordfdetails are variable, and any number ofcords or straps ca nibe .used.

w Other variable and optional details are.

laces, hooks, pockets, eyelet .holes, ve nti-v .BlfitOlS, and otherobvious .-c0nven1e n ces, wh1ch= can {be readily understood, and which'Ldoinot illustrate or-claim. .My shelter can be so made that .it willwhen in use. he toldedup and reeerected 'It has a joints]: when thatisprewithout removing the fabrietromtheifram'e; 1 or the fabric'ismadeseparable,-an d forwela- 'tivelylar'ge shelters it :is mostisuitableto employ separable fabric.

Iclaimz- V l v y 1 =1. In ashelter -.i:'rame,-a foldable and -fl'exiiblerib adapted to be flexed-into a'curveeand to be :folded :intoshorter-lengths by opposite movements in the same plane and means -.oneach end I of therib tor -attachment of "a tensioning memberstohold the.rib'in its llrved position. I

2. In a shelter rframe comprising a'series of longitudinal, 1 pivotal-1y.jointed llexible imembers adapted to be zfOI'CGd inbne direction toform a series of spaced-apartspring ribs and -to be folded in theopposite direction, supportingmembers for gthe ends'ojf the ribs andtensioning 'II'IIQELIIS connecting the rib supporting-members. 1

.3. In a shelter trame' comprising -,a 'series of longitudinal,pivotally jointed fiexible members adapted to be forced inone directionto t'orm a series; of spaced-apart :spfring .ribswand :to be folded=in-the opposite direction, supporting members for the ends of the ribsand detachable 'tenSioning means con- .necting the rib supporting imefmbers.

4. In a shelter frame comprising aiseries of longitudinal, pivotallyjointed flexible members adapted to be forced in one direc-v tion toform a series of spaced apart spring ribs and to be folded in theopposite direction,v means for'holding the ribs in spaced relation,supporting members for the ends of the ribs and tensioning meansconnecting the rib supporting members.

5. In a shelter frame comprising a series of longitudinal, pivotallyjointedflexible members adapted to be forced in one direction to form aseries of spaced apart spring ribs and to be foldedin the oppositedirection, means for holding the ribs in spaced,

relation, said means consisting of dropper members secured to ad acentribs, supportlng members for the ends of the ribs and hand. I I

tensioning means connectingthe rib supporting members.

6. A shelter comprising a. frame consistin of a series of longitudinal,pivotally ointe ing for said frame and frills secured to the marginaledges of said shelter forming means to support and attach holding meansfor said shelter. I p I vIn Witness whereof I have hereunto set myEDWARD BYNE.

